Humanities and Sciences

For an artist to function in the world of art, a working knowledge of the history of art is required. This course is designed to acquaint the student with the major movements, artists and artworks of the Western world. Beginning with Prehistoric cave paintings, the course will cover such areas as Egyptian, Greek and Roman art as well as the art of Medieval Europe. Discussion will link the ways in which concepts in art develop and change within different cultural and social concepts. Students will apply critical thinking, reflection and investigative skills in the preparation of essays for the course.

This is the second part of a two-semester required course. Please see ART101 for a further description. Beginning with the Renaissance and covering such periods as the Baroque, Rococo and Neo-Classical, Romantic, and Impressionism, students will be exposed to the masterworks of some of the greatest figures in Western art. Instruction will be by way of lectures, slide presentations and class discussions as well as through readings and museum visits.

This course focuses on the central role of art in the lives of non-Western societies. A broad range of aesthetic expression, including painting, sculpture, architecture, textiles, masks, and body decoration will be explored. Emphasis will be placed on art from India, Southeast Asia, Africa, and the cultures of the South Pacific Islands. The development of the visual arts and their contextualization within their social, economic and historical milieu, as well as evidence of cross-cultural commonalities, will be examined.

From Catlin’s first depiction of the American Indian, through the Golden Age of Howard Pyle, to Norman Rockwell and beyond, the illustrator has been an important and unique facet of American culture. As reporters, storytellers and merchandisers, illustrators have provided a mirror for each generation and helped to define their age. Through discussions and slide presentations, this course will provide an overview of the styles, thoughts, and methods of the last one hundred years of American illustration.

This course presents a survey of both historical and contemporary trends in American graphic design in various industries (i.e. advertising food, toiletries, etc.) and includes comparison of global design histories and trends. Through a series of lectures, students will be introduced to the theories and methods driving historical and current design as well as the work of leading designers who have set the standards of excellence in graphics. Reading assignments will be made in the areas of graphic design theory and criticism to encourage students to explore both old evolving into new ideas and trends in graphic design.

This course will address the major movements and artists of the twentieth century, in their social and ideational context with reference to historical precedence. The transition of modernism from its European roots, its shift to America and into the pluralism and internationalism of the present is covered. The emphasis of this course is on the dynamism and variety of the historical process with attention to the idea of the artists’ individuality in relationship to their milieu. Lectures, readings, seminars, field trips and weekly writings are part of this class, with focus placed on the student’s ability to verbalize and participate in class discussions.

Influential periods studied include Italian Renaissance, Northern Renaissance, Venetian Art, Mannerism and the Baroque.

This course will examine how technological invention and advancements have influenced and continue to influence art and the art making process. Starting with the birth of photography and ending with computer-generated art, this course will explore how mechanical and electronic inventions have caused/altered art movements as well as created new art forms such as film, video, radio and interactive art.

This course will discuss these art movements in depth and explore the historical and social milieus of Western Europe in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Beginning in the age of French salons and absolute monarchy, this course traces the rise of the bourgeoisie, the revolt against the aristocracy, and the triumph of enlightenment thought.